Written Answers Wednesday 13 September 2006

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much rice from the United States of America is imported annually into Scotland and what comparative information it has on levels of imports into the (a) United Kingdom and (b) European Union.

Rhona Brankin: Separate figures are not available for the amount of rice imported annually from the United States of America into Scotland. The following tables give information on the level of imports into (a) the United Kingdom, and (b) the European Union.

  Table 1: UK Imports of rice from USA in period 2003 to June 2006

  

 Description
 2003
 2004
 2005
 January to June 2006


 (Tonnes)
 (£000)
 (Tonnes)
 (£000)
 (Tonnes)
 (£000)
 (Tonnes)
 (£000)


 Husked rice
 76,419
 11,356
 69,765
 13,905
 70,584
 13,221
 37,576
 7,461


 Milled rice
 23,945
 7,528
 10,840
 3,452
 19,127
 5,072
 6,343
 1,966


 Broken rice
 12,000
 1,528
 2,020
 447
 5,833
 1,383
 1,505
 245


 Grand Total
 112,364
 20,412
 82,625
 17,804
 95,544
 19,676
 45,424
 9,672



  Table 2: EU imports of rice from USA in period 2003 to March 2006

  

 
 2003
 2004
 2005
 January to June 2006


 Description
 (Tonnes)
 (£000)
 (Tonnes)
 (£000)
 (Tonnes)
 (£000)
 (Tonnes)
 (£000)


 Husked rice
 236,858
 49,354
 189,179
 52,128
 226,737
 57,810
 18,542
 5,070


 Milled rice
 51,957
 24,927
 47,345
 23,055
 46,662
 19,795
 1,565
 1,046


 Broken rice
 15,965
 3,357
 3,580
 1,018
 4,056
 1,397
 403
 143


 Grand Total
 304,780
 77,638
 240,104
 76,201
 277,455
 79,002
 20,510
 6,259

Air Services

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its £11.2 million grant for the Air Discount Scheme it expects will fund, either directly or indirectly, the costs of, and passenger compensation for, flight delays and cancellations and what effect the EU rulings on compensation for delays and cancellations will have on such funding.

Tavish Scott: Compensation claims for flight delays and cancellations are the responsibility of airlines. No portion of the Air Discount Scheme funding is payable for such claims.

Antisocial Behaviour

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been made available to Dumfries and Galloway Council to combat antisocial behaviour since 2003.

Hugh Henry: Since 2003, the Scottish Executive has made available antisocial behaviour funding to Dumfries and Galloway Community Planning Partnership as follows:

  

 2004-05
£642,000


 2005-06
£712,800



  In addition, Dumfries and Galloway has been awarded a total of £183,872 for provision of noise nuisance services over the period 2004-06.

  This specific Scottish Executive funding for antisocial behaviour services complements funding through the core local government finance settlement that may also impact on measures to tackle or prevent antisocial behaviour. The Scottish Executive’s specific antisocial behaviour funding is subject to an outcome agreement made between the Executive and local partners. The support provided to local authorities through the core local government finance settlement is provided through a block grant and it is the responsibility of local councils to allocate these resources according to local needs.

Bridges

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the statement made in correspondence from the Lord Advocate on 8 June 2006 indicating that there was no legal requirement for the Assignation Statement relating to the Skye Bridge tolling regime to be signed, whether it will indicate what statutory authority permits the statement to be unsigned, undated and anonymous.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16388 on 20 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Bridges

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the statement made in correspondence from the Lord Advocate on 8 June 2006 indicating that there was no legal requirement for the Assignation Statement relating to the Skye Bridge tolling regime to be signed, how many other such instruments which are the responsibility of the Executive are unsigned.

Tavish Scott: There are no other statements made under paragraph 14(A)3 of Part IIA of Schedule 1 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

Bridges

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will identify all road bridges on the trunk road network where traffic movements are controlled by traffic lights and which of these bridges are programmed to be upgraded or replaced in order to allow continuous traffic movement.

Tavish Scott: There are 19 locations where traffic movement over a trunk road bridge is controlled by traffic lights. These are as follows:

  
Fixed Bridges with Permanent Traffic Signals:

A828 Connel.
A83 Aray Bridge.
A96 Inveramsay Bridge.
A95 Dalvey Bridge.
A95 Cromdale Bridge.
A7 Skippers Bridge.
A7 Factory Bridge.
A701 St. Anne’s Bridge.
A76 Whitehill Bridge.
A82 Nevis River (Signals provided for junction)
A830 Lochy River New (Signals provided for junction).

Swing Bridges Over Canals with Permanent Traffic Signals:

A830 Banavie.
A82 Laggan.
A82 Aberchalder.
A82 Fort Augustus.
A82 Tomnahrich.
A83 Ardrishaig.

Bridges with Temporary Traffic Signals:

A82 Larig Eilde – new bridge under construction; due for removal January 2007.
A9 Berrydale Langwell/ A9 Berrydale Water – under repair; due for removal September 2006.



  Transport Scotland has no plans to upgrade or replace any of the above bridges to allow continuous traffic movement, except for those with temporary traffic signals.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for Scottish trunk roads and can be contacted for more information if required.

Careers Scotland

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it hopes to announce the outcome of the review of the future structure of Careers Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: Consultation on options for the future structure of Careers Scotland was completed on 10 September 2006. Ministers will be considering the responses carefully and intend to reach a decision around the end of the year.

Central Heating Programme

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been made in respect of Eaga Partnership Ltd in each year since the introduction of the central heating programme to date, broken down by local authority area.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The number of complaints made in respect of Eaga Partnership Ltd, in each year since the introduction of the central heating programme, is shown in the following table. Some complaints received are not upheld or are of a minor nature.

  Information is not held by local authority area.

  

 Year
 Number of Complaints


 2001-02 
 136


 2002-03
 250


 2003-04
 103


 2004-05
 122


 2005-06
 194


 2006-07
 118


 Total
 923



  From October 2006 the central heating and warm deal programmes will be managed by Scottish Gas.

Dentistry

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any general dental practioners have been fined, disciplined or otherwise excluded, in part or in total, from providing NHS general dental services due to their being unable to provide satisfactorily responsive delivery of treatment.

Lewis Macdonald: Information is not held centrally on the number of dentists found in breach of their terms of service under NHS general dental services (GDS) by NHS Discipline Committees.

  The NHS tribunal has directed the national disqualification from NHS board dental lists of one dentist in the last 10 years on the ground that his remaining listed and therefore able to provide NHS general dental services would prejudice the efficiency of these services.

  Dentists may be referred to the General Dental Council for unfitness to practise the profession of dentistry. Matters relating to the council are reserved.

Diabetes

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinics were provided for diabetes patients in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not centrally available.

Diabetes

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the posts of (a) lead clinician and (b) manager for the managed clinical networks for diabetes have been filled and, if not, for how long these posts have been vacant.

Mr Andy Kerr: The new lead clinician for diabetes in Scotland, Dr Donald Pearson, was appointed in August 2006.

  All NHS boards, with the exception of Orkney, have a lead clinician and manager in post to support diabetes managed clinical networks. In Orkney, the lead clinician post has been unfilled for two years and the network manager post has been unfilled for five months. The imminent establishment of a Community Health Partnership has enabled these gaps to be addressed and it is expected that a lead clinician will be in post by October. A new joint management structure encompassing the diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke managed clinical networks will be put in place during the autumn.

Education

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have sufficient resources to support the increasing numbers of pupils with English as a Second Language needs and whether it plans to hold discussions with local authorities and teachers’ representatives on how best to address the needs of these children.

Robert Brown: It is for local authorities, taking account of their own individual circumstances, to decide how to allocate resources in order to provide for children and young people with additional support needs including those for whom English is an additional language. Officials are happy to meet with any local authority or teachers’ representatives to discuss this issue.

Emergency Planning

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1999 officials from its Justice Department with responsibility for civil contingencies planning have met to discuss plans in the event of possible accidental leakage of chemical weapons disposed of in Beaufort’s Dyke and what the worst estimates are of the number of likely casualties as a result of such an accidental discharge.

Cathy Jamieson: There are well-established procedures involving the Police, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and, where required, MOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel for the removal and/or disposal of munitions beaching on land in Scotland. Detailed information on past UK sea-dumping of munitions in Beaufort’s Dyke and elsewhere is held on the MOD website at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/HealthandSafety/DSC/DsandcEnvironmentSeaDumping.htm .

  The Executive and Scottish ministers maintain close contacts with emergency response organisations. The basis of any emergency response is based on the principle of subsidiarity in which control of operations is exercised at the lowest practical level. This approach has proven robust in Scotland. Further information can be found in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and its accompanying guidance Preparing Scotland published on the Scottish Executive website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/27140215/0.

Environment

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will replace the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme and, if so, on what date any new scheme will commence.

Ross Finnie: The Community Environmental Renewal Scheme was designed to assist communities in the vicinity of past or present quarries subject to the Aggregates Levy (in the case of disused quarries provided that they would have been subject to the levy had they been in operation today).

  The Aggregates Levy proceeds were available first from 2002 to 2004, and again from 2004 to 2007. Over this period £7.1 million has been offered or paid to 287 projects. The position on funding after March 2007 will follow from decisions on the levy still to be announced by the Chancellor, and on subsequent decisions by Scottish ministers on distribution of any funds.

Equal Opportunities

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by public bodies in achieving implementation of the gender equality duty.

Malcolm Chisholm: The rate of progress regarding the implementation of the Gender Equality Duty for public authorities depends on the precise form and scope of the duty - and the specific duties for Scotland are not due to be lain before the Scottish Parliament until October 2006.

  When the Scottish duties become law, the Equal Opportunities Commission Code of Practice and accompanying guidance on the implementation of the Gender Equality Duty will also be available to public authorities. This will be an important tool in helping public bodies to understand and meet the statutory requirements on them (with effect from April 2007) to promote equality between women and men.

Freedom of Information

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has monitored the costs to it and its agencies of handling requests for information made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and, if so, what the costs have been and how they compare with the costs of handling requests estimated when the legislation was drafted.

Ms Margaret Curran: Responding to requests for information has always been, and remains, part of the overall activities of all Executive staff. The resource implications of dealing with freedom of information requests has varied across the Executive but overall have not exceeded expectations. The period of preparation up until the act came into force was used effectively and has ensured that requests are dealt with without adverse impact on other areas of work.

Fuel Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about the number of voluntary disconnections which are estimated to take place among low income households this winter due to a combination of energy price rises and the additional tariff on prepayment meters operated by energy companies.

Malcolm Chisholm: We do not have this information.

Fuel Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations about the provision of additional assistance to low income consumers, in light of research by energywatch which indicates that higher tariffs charged on gas and electricity prepayment meters disproportionately disadvantage low-income households.

Malcolm Chisholm: Energy pricing and regulation of energy supply companies are matters reserved to Westminster. Nevertheless I will meet over the next few weeks with representatives from the main energy suppliers in Scotland to discuss the measures they are taking to protect vulnerable, low-income customers.

Fuel Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to organise a summit of gas and electricity suppliers to examine ways in which low income households are disproportionately disadvantaged or forced into voluntary disconnection as the result of additional tariffs on prepayment meters and record rises in energy bills.

Malcolm Chisholm: I will meet over the next few weeks with representatives from each of the main energy suppliers in Scotland to discuss measures they are taking to protect vulnerable customers from the effects of rises in energy costs. I intend to include the issue of pre-payment meters in these discussions.

Fuel Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions or plans it has made to offer additional assistance to low income consumers in light of research by energywatch which indicates that higher tariffs charged on gas and electricity prepayment meters disproportionately disadvantage low income households.

Malcolm Chisholm: Energy pricing and regulation of energy supply companies is a matter reserved to Westminster. Nevertheless I will meet over the next few weeks with representatives from the main energy suppliers in Scotland to discuss the measures they are taking to protect vulnerable, low-income customers.

  I already announced in March that fuel poverty programmes will continue and from January next year will be extended to provide up-grades for partial or inefficient central heating systems for those on the guarantee element of Pension Credit and Warm Deal measures for families with disabled children.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have mesothelioma, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_mesothelioma_inc.xls .

  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Ref: IR 2006-02465.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of mesothelioma in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table contains the number of patients discharged with a main diagnosis of mesothelioma from hospitals in Scotland by health board of residence for the five financial years (ending 31 March) to 2004-05:

  

 Local Authority Area
 2000-2001
 2001-2002
 2002-2003
 2003-2004
 2004-2005


 Argyll and Clyde
 28
 30
 39
 39
 31


 Ayrshire and Arran
 18
 11
 15
 23
 14


 Borders
 5
 2
 3
 2
 2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6
 3
 2
 2
 6


 Fife
 14
 13
 14
 18
 27


 Forth Valley
 15
 9
 12
 15
 11


 Grampian
 24
 16
 20
 19
 21


 Greater Glasgow
 52
 36
 50
 48
 60


 Highland
 3
 6
 13
 15
 9


 Lanarkshire
 15
 21
 27
 29
 20


 Lothian
 23
 38
 35
 47
 45


 Orkney Islands
 1
 1
 1
 1
 1


 Tayside
 14
 19
 17
 11
 12


 Western Isles
 0
 1
 2
 0
 2


 Scotland
 218
 206
 250
 268
 259



  Notes:

  Source: Scottish Morbidity Record SMR01 linked database – in-patient/day case discharge summaries from non-obstetric/non-psychiatric specialties.

  1. Main diagnosis of mesothelioma identified using International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD10) code C45.

  2. Patients with more than one discharge in a year are only counted once per NHS board area.

  3. Figures for Scotland may not equal the sum of the individual NHS boards due to migration between board areas of residence.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been prescribed Alimta for mesothelioma in the last year, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for NHS boards.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Medicines Consortium approved Alimta for use in cases of mesothelioma.

Mr Andy Kerr: On 8 July 2005 the Scottish Medicines Consortium accepted Pemetrexed (Alimta®) in combination with cisplatin for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of chemotherapy-naïve patients with stage II/IV unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will issue guidance on Alimta following the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s rejection of the drug for use in cases of mesothelioma.

Mr Andy Kerr: NICE is currently considering appeals against their Final Appraisal Determination before publishing firm advice for Pemetrexed (Alimta®) disodium for the treatment of malignant pleura mesothelioma.

  Once published this will be considered by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue allowing Alimta to be prescribed to patients who have mesothelioma.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27982 on 13 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  It is the responsibility of an individual clinician to make appropriate decisions on treatment in the circumstances of the individual patient. Patients who are currently receiving the drug should continue on their existing course of treatment until their clinician directs otherwise.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS hospitals will have hosted independent treatment centres by December 2006.

Mr Andy Kerr: There is one independent sector treatment centre planned to be open by December 2006 within NHS Scotland, at Stracathro Hospital.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost to NHS boards was of hosting an independent treatment centre in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are no independent sector treatment centres operating in NHS Scotland.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on hospital food and nutrition in each NHS board in each of the last five years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does not collect information on the total amount spent on hospital food and nutrition by NHS boards. However, the catering costs incurred by NHS board are reported in the costs book each year. This can be found on the National Services Scotland Information Services Division website at: www.isdscotland.org/isd/information/ .

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by central government on improving hospital nutrition in each year since 1997.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does not collect information on the amount spent by central government on improving hospital nutrition. NHS boards must determine the amount allocated to hospital nutrition within their own resources and according to relevant guidelines.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been made available by Communities Scotland for its Homestake scheme since August 2005, broken down by local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The following table sets out those local authority areas where Homestake funding has been provided:

  

 Council
2005-06
(£ Million)
2006-07 Budget
(£ Million)
Total
(£ Million)


 Aberdeenshire
 0.555
 1.163
 1.718


 Argyll and Bute
 0.266
 0.500
 0.766


 City of Aberdeen
 0.564
 0.400
 0.964


 City of Dundee
 0.000
 1.200
 1.200


 City of Edinburgh
 7.495
 4.971
 12.466


 City of Glasgow
 1.758
 0.640
 2.398


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.671
 0.808
 1.479


 East Ayrshire
 0.026
 0.000
 0.026


 East Dunbartonshire
 0.000
 0.500
 0.500


 East Lothian
 0.128
 1.061
 1.189


 East Renfrewshire
 0.000
 1.028
 1.028


 Fife
 0.712
 1.363
 2.075


 Highland
 4.208
 4.566
 8.774


 Midlothian
 0.777
 0.388
 1.165


 Moray
 0.000
 0.300
 0.300


 North Lanarkshire
 0.000
 0.400
 0.400


 Perth and Kinross
 0.071
 1.080
 1.151


 Renfrewshire
 0.728
 1.058
 1.786


 South Lanarkshire
 1.231
 0.000
 1.231


 Stirling
 0.012
 0.200
 0.212


 The Scottish Borders
 0.001
 0.000
 0.001


 West Dunbartonshire
 0.000
 0.550
 0.550


 West Lothian
 0.304
 0.146
 0.450


 Total
 19.507
 22.322
 41.829"

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been made available to Communities Scotland to fund the Special Needs Capital Grant scheme in each year since the scheme was established, broken down by local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The breakdown of spend for Special Needs Capital Grant in each local authority area is as follows:

  

 SNCG Spend
1994-95
(£ Million)
1995-96
(£ Million)
1996-97
(£ Million)
1997-98
(£ Million)
1998-99
(£ Million)
1999-2000
(£ Million)


 Council


 Aberdeenshire
 0.047
 
 
 0.113
 0.054
 0.030


 Angus
 
 
 
 
 0.173
 0.300


 Argyll and Bute
 
 
 
 
 
 


 City of Aberdeen
 
 0.490
 
 0.375
 0.681
 0.424


 City of Dundee
 
 
 
 
 
 


 City of Edinburgh
 0.253
 0.000
 0.451
 0.285
 
 


 City of Glasgow
 
 
 
 
 0.129
 0.018


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 0.108
 
 
 
 


 East Dunbartonshire
 0.449
 
 
 
 0.012
 0.050


 East Lothian
 
 
 0.071
 
 
 


 Fife
 
 
 0.108
 0.084
 0.189
 0.322


 Highland
 
 
 0.158
 
 0.016
 0.239


 Midlothian
 
 0.047
 0.037
 
 
 


 Moray
 
 
 
 0.239
 0.105
 0.093


 North Lanarkshire
 
 
 
 0.049
 
 


 Orkney
 
 
 
 0.186
 0.096
 


 Perth and Kinross
 
 0.005
 
 0.001
 0.178
 0.370


 Renfrewshire
 0.100
 0.008
 
 
 
 


 Stirling
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Total
 0.849
 0.657
 0.824
 1.333
 1.633
 1.848



  

 SNCG Spend
2000-01
(£ Million)
2001-02
(£ Million)
2002-03
(£ Million)
2003-04
(£ Million)
2004-05
(£ Million)
2005-06
(£ Million)


 Council


 Aberdeenshire
 0.011
 0.254
 0.346
 
 0.110
 0.011


 Angus
 0.117
 0.184
 0.182
 0.334
 0.290
 


 Argyll and Bute
 
 
 
 
 
 0.045


 City of Aberdeen
 0.268
 0.475
 0.306
 1.531
 0.028
 0.468


 City of Dundee
 0.014
 0.301
 
 0.030
 
 


 City of Edinburgh
 
 0.024
 0.047
 
 
 0.038


 City of Glasgow
 0.092
 0.090
 0.113
 
 0.394
 0.267


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 
 


 East Dunbartonshire
 
 
 0.027
 
 0.029
 


 East Lothian
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Fife
 0.442
 0.159
 0.334
 0.039
 0.032
 0.026


 Highland
 0.078
 0.645
 0.028
 0.029
 0.001
 


 Midlothian
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Moray
 0.138
 0.142
 0.049
 
 
 0.001


 North Lanarkshire
 
 
 0.035
 
 0.219
 


 Orkney
 
 
 0.136
 0.077
 0.045
 


 Perth and Kinross
 0.009
 
 0.050
 0.082
 
 0.140


 Renfrewshire
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Stirling
 -0.159
 0.735
 
 
 
 


 Total
 1.011
 3.007
 1.653
 2.122
 1.146
 0.995

Housing

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the estimate by Communities Scotland in its Investment Programme 2006-07 that the Executive’s affordable housing investment programme to build or improve 7,100 affordable homes will generate at least £200 million from the private sector to support the programme, whether it will explain how the figure of £200 million was reached.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The 2006-07 Investment Programme estimates that at least £200 million of private finance will be generated in support of delivering 7,100 housing approvals. The estimate was produced assuming an average grant rate per project of 66% and an average private sector contribution of 34%.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the capital and revenue costs of implementing the second stage transfer of Glasgow Housing Association’s housing stock.

Johann Lamont: The costs of second stage transfer (SST) will vary significantly according to a large number of factors, including in particular the number and shape of transfers and the timing of these transfers. A joint team of officials from Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), Communities Scotland, Glasgow City Council and the purchasers are currently considering the financial implications.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the group examining Glasgow Housing Association’s second stage stock transfer will report its findings.

Johann Lamont: It is hoped that the report of the joint team on financial issues will be finalised in the next few weeks. It will be made publicly available in due course.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive where the capital and revenue costs of Glasgow Housing Association’s second stage stock transfer are accounted for in the association’s business plan.

Johann Lamont: All elements of Glasgow Housing Association’s (GHA) business plan are relevant to determining the costs of second stage transfer (SST) since the prices set for individual transfers will be driven primarily by disaggregation of that business plan. In addition, GHA has allocated a specific sum of £6 million within its business plan for costs associated with taking forward SST.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been brought to court by Glasgow Housing Association in each year since its inception.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland does not collect information on the number of people taken to court by any Registered Social Landlord.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people brought to court by the Glasgow Housing Association lost their case in each year since its inception.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland does not collect information on the number of people brought to court by any Registered Social Landlord.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many court cases brought by the Glasgow Housing Association were sent to mediation in each year since its inception.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland does not collect information on the number of court cases brought by any Registered Social Landlord which are sent to mediation.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on court cases brought by the Glasgow Housing Association in each year since its inception.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland does not collect information on the amount spent by Registered Social Landlords on court cases.

Housing

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses in multiple occupation (HMO) have been licensed in Dumfries and Galloway.

Malcolm Chisholm: The number of HMO licenses in force as at 31 March 2006 is published in Table 18 of the Scottish Executive Statistical Bulletin (Housing Series)  Housing trends in Scotland: quarter ending 31 March.2006 (HSG/2006/5). This is available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref ).

Justice

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate will publish guidelines for procurators fiscal outlining the circumstances in which making the sign of the cross may constitute a criminal offence.

Elish Angiolini: Making the sign of the cross does not constitute a criminal offence. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service fully respects religious belief and lawful religious practices and would not countenance action against an individual for lawful acts of religious reverence or observance. Where any religious act or symbol is abused with intent to mock persons of that religion, or as part of conduct calculated to incite disorder it may form part of the circumstances amounting to a Breach of the Peace, but this will depend critically on the context of the incident and the facts and circumstances of the individual case.

Justice

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to examine the situation of lay people conducting their own cases in court and their ability to question past and present sexual partners about these partners’ sexual activity and history.

Hugh Henry: In criminal proceedings, under the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002, the accused in rape and sexual offence cases are prevented from personally cross-examining the complainer and are required to be legally represented for the whole trial. In addition, there are significant restrictions on the extent to which evidence can be led regarding the character or sexual history of the complainer in rape and other sexual offence cases. The Executive has no plans to extend these provisions to civil cases.

  The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 provides for the use of special measures, such as screens, a supporter, a prior statement as evidence in chief, live TV link and the taking of evidence by a commission, by adult vulnerable witnesses when giving their evidence. An adult vulnerable witness can include anyone where there is a significant risk that the quality of their evidence may be diminished by reason of fear or distress in connection with giving evidence at the trial. Applying this definition will enable the court to take into account the wider circumstances of the case, such as the nature of the evidence the witness will give, and any relationship between the witness and the accused. Such considerations are likely to be particularly relevant in cases, whether criminal or civil, which may involve a witness being questioned about sexual matters.

  Provisions in the Vulnerable Witnesses Act will be implemented for civil proceedings from October 2007.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27855 by George Lyon on 28 August 2006, what representations it has received regarding any link between the purchase of alcohol from a garage forecourt and drink driving.

George Lyon: The ability to purchase alcohol from a garage forecourt was one of the questions posed when the Scottish Executive conducted a consultation on the proposals for the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Seventy-nine consultees provided some comment. The consultation document and the responses are available on the Scottish Executive website.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27855 by George Lyon on 28 August 2006, whether it will publish any evidence it has which demonstrates a link between the purchase of alcohol from a garage forecourt and drink driving.

George Lyon: The Scottish Executive does not hold any evidence which demonstrates where drink drivers obtain their alcohol.

Local Authorities

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its position on granting a byelaw to Aberdeen City Council to eradicate begging on the streets of Aberdeen.

Hugh Henry: As I stated during my visit to Aberdeen on 25 July 2006, Aberdeen City Council have been invited to submit a request for the Executive’s position on this issue to be reviewed. As we have previously explained to the council, we consider that the current criminal law is sufficient to address issues around begging, and we would expect the request to include an explanation of why the council does not consider this to be the case.

Local Government

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform has held any meetings with West Lothian Labour councillors about the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland’s final recommendations submitted on 8 June 2006.

Mr Tom McCabe: I met the West Lothian Council Leader and officials on 14 August. I requested this meeting to better understand the council’s proposals submitted during the six week period following publication of the commission’s recommendations.

Migration

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many citizens of the A8 countries have migrated to Scotland since these countries’ entry to the European Union in 2004, broken down by country of origin.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the skills possessed by workers from the A8 countries who have entered the Scottish job market.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on employment levels amongst migrants to Scotland from the A8 countries.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the age profile of migrants to Scotland from the A8 countries.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information is available in the Accession Monitoring Report May 2004 - June 2006 an online report available from the Home Office’s Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Migration

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning the decision over whether to allow Bulgarian and Romanian citizens access to the UK job market if the two countries enter the EU in 2007 and whether it will provide details of these discussions.

Mr Tom McCabe: An announcement of the UK position will follow the final EU decision on accession of these two countries. We are, and will remain, in contact with the UK Government on this issue.

Ministerial Meetings

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times since his appointment the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning has met officials of Scottish Enterprise in its headquarters in Glasgow.

Nicol Stephen: According to diary records, of the seven occasions I have had formal meetings with the Chairman, Chief Executive or board members of Scottish Enterprise since being appointed as Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, one of these has been at its Glasgow HQ.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many in-patients waited for (a) less than three months, (b) less than six months, (c) less than nine months, (d) less than 12 months and (e) 12 months or more for an NHS appointment in each year since 1998, broken down by (i) speciality, (ii) NHS board and (iii) NHS hospital.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many out-patients waited for (a) less than three months, (b) less than six months, (c) less than nine months, (d) less than 12 months and (e) 12 months or more for an NHS appointment in each year since 1998, broken down by (i) speciality, (ii) NHS board and (iii) NHS hospital.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27402 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 August 2006, how many out-patients were on hospital waiting lists on 30 June 2006, also expressed per 100,000 of the population.

Mr Andy Kerr: On 30 June 2006, the number of patients waiting for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant following referral from a general medical/dental practitioner was 192,465. On the same date, the waiting list per 100,000 population was 3,778.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27403 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 August 2006, how many in-patients were on hospital waiting lists on 30 June 2006, also expressed per 100,000 of the population.

Mr Andy Kerr: On 30 June 2006, the number of patients waiting for in-patient and day case treatment was 104,631. On the same date, the waiting list per 100,000 population was 2,054.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26332 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 June 2006, how many in-patients with a guaranteed waiting time had waited for over six months to be treated as at 30 June 2006.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many out-patients with a guaranteed waiting time had waited for over six months to be treated as at 30 June 2006.

Mr Andy Kerr: None.

National Health Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many redundancies there have been in the NHS in each year since 1990, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on redundancy is not collected centrally. However with the advent of the Scottish Workforce Information Statistical System (SWISS) this kind of information will be available for the future.

  The NHS Scotland organisational change policy recognises the need to retain its highly qualified and trained workforce and to provide job security. The policy makes clear that NHS boards working together should ensure compulsory redundancy is only made as a last resort.

Nursing

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of the district nurse service.

Mr Andy Kerr: A report of the review of nursing in the community will be published in due course.

People with Disabilities

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the money made available to Communities Scotland to fund the Special Needs Capital Grant scheme has been spent in each year since the scheme was established, broken down by local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Special Needs Capital Grant scheme is demand led and resources are provided in response to the development of eligible projects.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27940 on 13 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Procurement

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the total cost of procurement of goods and services for the Executive and its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Mr Tom McCabe: The total cost of procurement of goods and services for the Executive and its agencies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Rail Network

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the railway lines in Scotland which are in the ownership of BRB (Residuary) Ltd.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to http://www.brbr.gov.uk/property/property_listings where all BRB (Residuary) Ltd property is listed.

Regulation

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the final draft of the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit’s Report on Regulatory Concerns was approved and by whom.

Nicol Stephen: The Cabinet approved the final draft of the report on 8 August 2006 when they also agreed to its publication.

Regulation

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the decision was taken to publish the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit’s Report on Regulatory Concerns and who took the decision.

Nicol Stephen: The decision to publish the report was taken on the 8 August 2006 when Cabinet gave approval to its publication.

Residential Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training it provides for nursing home staff in relation to infection control.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does not provide training for nursing home staff.

Road Accidents

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21696 by Tavish Scott on 13 January 2006, how many personal injury accidents and deaths there were in 2005 on the A811 between (a) Stirling and the roundabout at Kippen Station and (b) Kippen Station and the junction with the A81 at Ballat.

Tavish Scott: Data about personal injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. The following table gives the numbers of road accidents which were identified in these returns as occurring on the specified sections of the A811 in 2005, and the associated numbers of fatalities.

  It should be noted that the following statistics are based upon the data which are held in the Scottish Executive’s road accident statistics database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authorities would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that local authorities may have made to the statistical information, for use at local level, about the location of each accident, based upon their knowledge of the roads and areas concerned.

  Injury Road Accidents Occurring on Sections of the A811, and the Associated Numbers of Fatalities, as Reported in the STATS 19 Statistical Returns

  

 Year
 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


Stirling to Kippen*
Kippen* to Ballat**
Stirling to Kippen*
Kippen* to Ballat**


 2005
 5
 9
 0
 1



  Notes:

  * the junction of the A811 and the B822, near Kippen.

  ** the junction of the A811 and the A81, near Ballat.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis it was involved in the consideration of Highland Council planning application 05/00543/SL and what the reasons were for its position on the application.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland is a statutory consultee on planning applications adjacent to trunk roads. Following full consideration of this planning application Transport Scotland issued a recommendation to refuse based on the unsafe nature of the access with the trunk road.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state its strategic development policy for land adjacent to the A87 on Skye.

Tavish Scott: The development plan for the area (Highland Structure Plan and Skye and Lochalsh Local Plan) provides the land use policy context within which proposed development is considered.

  Local authority planning departments are required to consult the Scottish Executive under article 15(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure)(Scotland) Order 1992 before granting planning permission for any development within 67 metres of a trunk road, where the development includes the formation, laying out or alteration of any means of access to a trunk road or where a development is likely to increase the volume or alter the type of traffic entering or leaving a trunk road.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27564 by Tavish Scott on 17 August 2006, when it expects that the further work being undertaken to assess the implications and practicalities of dualling between Perth and Pitlochry will be completed.

Tavish Scott: A report from the consultants undertaking the further work to assess the implications and practicalities of dualling the section of the A9 between Perth and Pitlochry is expected by Transport Scotland at the end of this year.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27564 by Tavish Scott on 17 August 2006, what issues are being considered in the further work being undertaken to assess the implications and practicalities of dualling between Perth and Pitlochry.

Tavish Scott: The transport corridor between Birnam and Ballinluig in particular is very constrained. A road improvement in this area could affect the existing railway line, the River Tay and its tributaries. The River and its tributaries are protected by their European Directorate designation as a Special Area of Conservation - and the National Scenic Area.

  Transport Scotland’s consultants will assess the feasibility of engineering a dual carriageway in this corridor with acceptable impacts on these constraints and on the local residents. The consultants will also report on the cost and economic benefits of such a proposal.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Schools

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on taxi fares for pupils attending schools in each education authority area in the last three years.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Scottish Enterprise

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trainees have been enrolled in Scottish Enterprise-funded training places in each of the last five years, broken down into age (a) 16-18, (b) 19-24 and (c) 25 and over.

Nicol Stephen: The information asked for is not held centrally as it is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Executive Funding

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to develop and maintain the www.scotlandistheplace.com website since its launch.

Mr Tom McCabe: The total funding allocated to develop and maintain www.scotlandistheplace.com between its launch in May 2004 and the end of August 2006 is £341,352. The number of visits to the site over the same time period is 435,471. The cost per visit until the end of August 2006 is 78 pence.

Scottish Executive Funding

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question SW2-27333 by Nicol Stephen on 28 August 2006, how much funding was given by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise between 1999 and 2006 to help start up businesses that were headquartered in Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: Details of the funding given is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Scottish Legal Aid Board

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what bonus payments have been paid to officials and officers of the Scottish Legal Aid Board in each year since 1999 and how such bonuses are calculated.

Hugh Henry: This is a matter for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The board will be happy to provide the information if requested to do so.

Sustainable Development

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the publication of Choosing our Future: Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy in December 2005 , which states that complex funding streams caused problems for those seeking to promote local environmental regeneration projects, when it will bring forward proposals to simplify the range and scope of these streams and on what date any new funding will be available.

Malcolm Chisholm: We expect to bring forward proposals to simplify the range and scope of funding streams for local environmental regeneration projects by the end of this financial year and to implement new arrangements for funding as soon as possible thereafter.

Tattooing and Skin Piercing

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive when local authorities were first made aware of their responsibilities in respect of licensing piercing and tattooing activities under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing Activities) and by what means this information was communicated to the authorities.

Mr Andy Kerr: Local authorities were made aware of their responsibilities under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006 through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in November 2005. A press release followed in December 2005 to announce that the Order, subject to the affirmative resolution procedure, had been laid before the Scottish Parliament.

  The Scottish Executive wrote to Chief Executives of local authorities on 20 February 2006 to confirm that the Order had been made in the Scottish Parliament on 1 February 2006 and would come into force on 1 April 2006 with a 12 month transitional period for local authorities to implement.

Vulnerable Witnesses

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the arrangements in place for vulnerable witnesses.

Hugh Henry: We have already implemented those parts of The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 which help child and adult vulnerable witnesses in High Court and sheriff court solemn proceedings and children’s hearings to give their evidence. We have appointed independent research contactors to monitor and evaluate the impact of these provisions. The contractors are due to report in the summer of 2007 when their findings will be reviewed. We will continue monitoring and evaluation for some time and will include the provisions for witnesses in sheriff court summary and all civil proceedings when they are implemented.

Water Services

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether there are any plans for a UK national water grid and, if there are such plans, what involvement Scottish ministers have had in developing them and what the timescale is, and processes are, for development of such a grid.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive holds no information on plans for a UK national water grid and has not been involved in any discussion on this issue.